The song lyrics were written by the band Van Halen, as they were asked to write a song for the 1979 movie "Over the Edge" starring Matt Dillon. The movie (and the lyrics, although more obliquely) are about bored, rebellious youth with nothing better to do than get into trouble. If you see the movie, these lyrics will make more sense. It's a great movie if you grew up in the 70s/80s you'll definitely remember some of these characters from your own life. Fun fact, after writing the song, Van Halen decided not to let the movie use it.
it makes no difference to me
if i die in my sleep tonight
i'm sick to the bone
and longing for home
my blood runs white
and i didn't want anyone
and i didn't want anyone
to be hurt by my words
if there's pain in hell, i'm feeling it today
wishing i were seven in a children's heaven
how heavy the world weighs
how heavy the world weighs
how heavy the world weighs
how heavy the world weighs
ghosts don't cry
and the dead don't die
they walk hand in hand
as if partners in crime
partners in crime
i fall
on and on and on down
i fall
on and on and on down
i'm falling down
on and on and on down
i fall
on and on and on down
the world could feed you love
but it's me you've come to despise
like a head on a plate of purity
playing judas iscariot
in the hands of sanctity
how heavy the world weighs
how heavy the world weighs
when one must carry the world
i fall
on and on and on down
i fall
on and on and on down
i'm falling down
on and on and on down
i'm falling down
on and on
i fall down
i fall down
when you're not around
i fall
on and on and on down
i fall down
on and on and on
on and on and on
on and on and on down
i fall down
i fall down
how heavy the world weighs
how heavy the world weighs
if i die in my sleep tonight
i'm sick to the bone
and longing for home
my blood runs white
and i didn't want anyone
and i didn't want anyone
to be hurt by my words
if there's pain in hell, i'm feeling it today
wishing i were seven in a children's heaven
how heavy the world weighs
how heavy the world weighs
how heavy the world weighs
how heavy the world weighs
ghosts don't cry
and the dead don't die
they walk hand in hand
as if partners in crime
partners in crime
i fall
on and on and on down
i fall
on and on and on down
i'm falling down
on and on and on down
i fall
on and on and on down
the world could feed you love
but it's me you've come to despise
like a head on a plate of purity
playing judas iscariot
in the hands of sanctity
how heavy the world weighs
how heavy the world weighs
when one must carry the world
i fall
on and on and on down
i fall
on and on and on down
i'm falling down
on and on and on down
i'm falling down
on and on
i fall down
i fall down
when you're not around
i fall
on and on and on down
i fall down
on and on and on
on and on and on
on and on and on down
i fall down
i fall down
how heavy the world weighs
how heavy the world weighs
Lyrics submitted by jrtalon
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In regards to the meaning of this song:
Before a live performance on the EP Five Stories Falling, Geoff states “It’s about the last time I went to visit my grandmother in Columbus, and I saw that she was dying and it was the last time I was going to see her. It is about realizing how young you are, but how quickly you can go.”
That’s the thing about Geoff and his sublime poetry, you think it’s about one thing, but really it’s about something entirely different. But the lyrics are still universal and omnipresent, ubiquitous, even. So relatable. That’s one thing I love about this band. I also love their live performances, raw energy and Geoff’s beautiful, imperfectly perfect vocals. His voice soothes my aching soul.
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This song was originally written by a guy called Peter Gutteridge. He was one of the founders of the "Dunedin Sound" a musical scene in the south of New Zealand in the early 80s. From there it was covered by "The Clean" one of the early bands of that scene (he had originally been a member of in it's early days, writing a couple of their best early songs). The Dunedin sound, and the Clean became popular on american college radio in the mid to late 80s. I guess Yo La Tengo heard that version.
Great version of a great song,
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This is a sequel to 2001's "Reckless Abandon", and features the band looking back on their clumsy youth fondly.
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Ed Sheeran shares a short story of reconnecting with an old flame on “American Town.” The track is about a holiday Ed Sheeran spends with his countrywoman who resides in America. The two are back together after a long period apart, and get around to enjoying a bunch of fun activities while rekindling the flames of their romance.
Well, this is a stab in the dark, but I'm going to say this is Billy's sort of plea for forgiveness for all of the things he's said about his band mates and friends. The lines "partners in crime" and "playing judas iscariot" sort of back that one up I think. I've never heard this song though, where could I find it?
I found it on Projectplaylist.com. It's got an almost Billy Idol feel to it.
this is a great song, i think it's a shame it was never commercially released in any form. I got an mp3 from rspaa.org (reborn smashing pumpkins audio archive).
urgh! i just found out something horrible! there's now some site using the same address (rspaa) which has porn, do NOT type that address in. sorry if the previous comment got your hopes up. i was shocked and disgusted when that came up on google. that's probably why the smashing pumpkins audio archive seems to be inaccessible now. i feel disgusted about this.
I know what you mean Wiggy52, I found that out a couple of months ago. It's a shame one of the best SP audio archive sites has disappeared.
As for the meaning of the song I think it's pretty obvious. It's just a song of pure depression, when you feel the whole world is against you and you can't get out.